Founding of the USA MCQs [USA – America]

1. Who is often referred to as the “Father of the Constitution”? A) Thomas Jefferson B) George Washington C) James Madison D) Benjamin Franklin Answer: C) James Madison 2. What year was the Declaration of Independence signed? A) 1774 B) 1775 C) 1776 D) 1777 Answer: C) 1776 3. Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence? A) John Adams B) Benjamin Franklin C) Thomas Jefferson D) John Jay Answer: C) Thomas Jefferson 4. Which event marked the official end of the American Revolutionary War? A) The Battle of Yorktown B) The Treaty of Paris 1783 C) The Siege of Boston D) The Battle of Saratoga Answer: B) The Treaty of Paris 1783 5. What was the first governing document of the United States? A) The Declaration of Independence B) The Constitution C) The Articles of Confederation D) The Bill of Rights Answer: C) The Articles of Confederation 6. Which meeting led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution? A) The Continental Congress B) The Annapolis Convention C) The Constitutional Convention D) The Philadelphia Convention Answer: C) The Constitutional Convention 7. What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? A) To promote the ratification of the Constitution B) To declare independence from Britain C) To outline the Articles of Confederation D) To propose amendments to the Constitution Answer: A) To promote the ratification of the Constitution 8. Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers? A) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay B) Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams C) George Washington, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams D) Patrick Henry, James Monroe, and Thomas Paine Answer: A) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay 9. What document established the first national government of the United States? A) The Constitution B) The Declaration of Independence C) The Articles of Confederation D) The Bill of Rights Answer: C) The Articles of Confederation 10. Who was the first President of the United States under the Constitution? A) Thomas Jefferson B) John Adams C) George Washington D) James Madison Answer: C) George Washington 11. Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution? A) New York B) Virginia C) Delaware D) Pennsylvania Answer: C) Delaware 12. What was the main reason for convening the Constitutional Convention of 1787? A) To draft the Declaration of Independence B) To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation C) To draft the Bill of Rights D) To negotiate the Treaty of Paris Answer: B) To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 13. Who was the President of the Constitutional Convention? A) Thomas Jefferson B) Benjamin Franklin C) James Madison D) George Washington Answer: D) George Washington 14. What was the main focus of the Great Compromise? A) The issue of slavery B) Representation in Congress C) State vs. federal power D) The electoral process Answer: B) Representation in Congress 15. What was the three-fifths compromise related to? A) Taxation B) Representation in Congress C) Slavery D) Trade Answer: C) Slavery 16. What is the Bill of Rights? A) The first ten amendments to the Constitution B) The original articles of the Constitution C) The preamble to the Constitution D) The Federalist Papers Answer: A) The first ten amendments to the Constitution 17. Which amendment abolished slavery? A) 13th Amendment B) 14th Amendment C) 15th Amendment D) 19th Amendment Answer: A) 13th Amendment 18. Who was the primary author of the Bill of Rights? A) James Madison B) George Washington C) Alexander Hamilton D) John Jay Answer: A) James Madison 19. Which of the following was NOT a Founding Father of the United States? A) Alexander Hamilton B) Abraham Lincoln C) John Adams D) Benjamin Franklin Answer: B) Abraham Lincoln 20. What was the main issue with the Articles of Confederation? A) Too much power to the federal government B) Lack of a national court system C) Lack of a standing army D) Inequality among states Answer: B) Lack of a national court system 21. What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787? A) To establish a system for admitting new states B) To regulate trade with Native American tribes C) To outline the powers of Congress D) To establish a national bank Answer: A) To establish a system for admitting new states 22. What was the main focus of the Virginia Plan? A) State representation based on population B) Equal representation for all states C) The abolition of slavery D) The establishment of a national bank Answer: A) State representation based on population 23. What was the primary purpose of the Continental Congress? A) To draft the Constitution B) To manage the American Revolutionary War efforts C) To draft the Declaration of Independence D) To establish the federal judiciary Answer: B) To manage the American Revolutionary War efforts 24. Which document formally ended the American Revolutionary War? A) The Treaty of Paris 1783 B) The Treaty of Ghent C) The Articles of Confederation D) The Constitution Answer: A) The Treaty of Paris 1783 25. Which colony was the first to declare independence from Britain? A) Virginia B) Massachusetts C) New York D) South Carolina Answer: B) Massachusetts 26. Who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War? A) Thomas Jefferson B) Benjamin Franklin C) John Adams D) George Washington Answer: D) George Washington 27. What was the main issue with the Articles of Confederation in terms of governance? A) It allowed for a strong executive branch B) It provided for a strong central government C) It created a weak central government D) It eliminated state governments Answer: C) It created a weak central government 28. What event is often cited as the immediate cause of the American Revolutionary War? A) The Boston Tea Party B) The signing of the Declaration of Independence C) The Treaty of Paris 1783 D) The Battle of Yorktown Answer: A) The Boston Tea Party 29. Which state was the last to ratify the Constitution? A) New York B) Virginia C) Rhode Island D) North Carolina Answer: C) Rhode Island 30. What was the primary goal of the Federalists? A) To oppose the ratification of the Constitution B) To support a strong central government C) To advocate for state sovereignty D) To propose a new declaration of independence Answer: B) To support a strong central government 31. What was the main concern of the Anti-Federalists? A) That the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government B) That the Constitution did not address slavery C) That the Constitution lacked a bill of rights D) That the Constitution did not establish a national bank Answer: A) That the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government 32. Who was the President of the Continental Congress during the signing of the Declaration of Independence? A) John Hancock B) Thomas Jefferson C) Benjamin Franklin D) Samuel Adams Answer: A) John Hancock 33. Which of the following is NOT a provision of the Constitution? A) Establishing the executive branch B) Establishing the legislative branch C) Abolishing slavery D) Establishing the judicial branch Answer: C) Abolishing slavery 34. What role did Benjamin Franklin play in the founding of the United States? A) Drafted the Declaration of Independence B) Was a key diplomat in France C) Served as the first President of the United States D) Drafted the Bill of Rights Answer: B) Was a key diplomat in France 35. What is the significance of the Preamble to the Constitution? A) It outlines the powers of Congress B) It establishes the principles of the Constitution C) It lists the rights of citizens D) It describes the structure of the judiciary Answer: B) It establishes the principles of the Constitution 36. What was the name of the first ten amendments to the Constitution? A) The Federalist Papers B) The Articles of Confederation C) The Bill of Rights D) The Preamble Answer: C) The Bill of Rights 37. Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury? A) Thomas Jefferson B) Alexander Hamilton C) James Madison D) John Adams Answer: B) Alexander Hamilton 38. What was the main purpose of the Constitutional Convention? A) To draft a new declaration of independence B) To amend the Articles of Confederation C) To draft a new constitution D) To elect a president Answer: C) To draft a new constitution 39. Which amendment granted women the right to vote? A) 15th Amendment B) 19th Amendment C) 24th Amendment D) 26th Amendment Answer: B) 19th Amendment 40. What was the primary purpose of the Electoral College? A) To elect members of Congress B) To elect the President of the United States C) To conduct elections D) To appoint Supreme Court justices Answer: B) To elect the President of the United States 41. Which amendment is known as the “Prohibition Amendment”? A) 18th Amendment B) 19th Amendment C) 21st Amendment D) 22nd Amendment Answer: A) 18th Amendment 42. Which clause in the Constitution grants Congress the power to create laws necessary to execute its powers? A) The Supremacy Clause B) The Commerce Clause C) The Necessary and Proper Clause D) The Establishment Clause Answer: C) The Necessary and Proper Clause 43. Who was the first Chief Justice of the United States? A) John Marshall B) John Jay C) Roger Taney D) William Howard Taft Answer: B) John Jay 44. What year was the Constitution ratified? A) 1787 B) 1788 C) 1789 D) 1790 Answer: B) 1788 45. What is the supreme law of the land? A) The Declaration of Independence B) The Articles of Confederation C) The Constitution D) The Bill of Rights Answer: C) The Constitution 46. What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison? A) It established the principle of judicial review B) It declared the Constitution unconstitutional C) It resolved a dispute over election procedures D) It established the supremacy of state laws Answer: A) It established the principle of judicial review 47. What did the 14th Amendment guarantee? A) The right to vote B) Equal protection under the law C) Freedom of speech D) The right to bear arms Answer: B) Equal protection under the law 48. Who was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom? A) Thomas Jefferson B) George Washington C) James Madison D) John Adams Answer: A) Thomas Jefferson 49. What does the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause state? A) Federal laws are superior to state laws B) State laws are superior to federal laws C) The Constitution is inferior to federal laws D) The Constitution is superior to international laws Answer: A) Federal laws are superior to state laws 50. Who presides over the Senate? A) The President of the United States B) The Vice President of the United States C) The Speaker of the House D) The Secretary of State Answer: B) The Vice President of the United States